Speaking at an education sector media briefing, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revealed that the piloting of the new General Education Certificate (GEC) is making good progress.
After introducing the certificate at 270 schools across all nine provinces in 2022, Motshekga says it led to the refinement of assessment frameworks with great strides made on introducing dynamic and innovative assessment forms into the GEC assessment model.
The department said the new certificate is expected to help address South Africa’s high youth unemployment rates because under the current system, hundreds of students leave the school system each year without a qualification, hindering them from finding jobs.
New Certificate
When plans for the new certificate were revealed, many individuals criticised it and said that the department was creating an exit point for learners in Grade 9.
The department has affirmed that the implementation of the new certificate does not indicate that it is an exit point for learners from the schooling system. Instead, it’s primary purpose is to facilitate subject choices beyond Grade 9 and articulation between schools and TVET colleges.
The purpose of the GEC is to provide learners with expanded opportunities to display their capabilities on inquiry-based learning, solving real world problems and designing practical solutions which will better prepare them for further education and training and the world of work.
She continued, “The assessment instruments have been designed to integrate the learning of 21st century skills within the scope of expected curriculum competencies.”
The GEC is also intended to formally recognise learners’ achievements at the end of the compulsory phase of schooling.
Full Rollout
Minister Motshekga said that in 2023, the piloting of the GEC will be increased to 1000 schools plus the inclusion of all schools of skill.
In addition, the number of participating schools will also represent all 75 education districts in 2023 with further up-scaling planned for 2024.
She explains “This will provide further learnings on how to strengthen the quality of the assessment tools, their infusion into school-based assessment and how to generate a holistic GEC report card for learners.”
While initially expected to fully roll out the certificate to all schools in South Africa by 2024, the pilot will instead be expanded again that year, with the full rollout now planned for 2025.
